Behind the scenes of 'Boogie Wonderland'

Boogie Wonderland is not what you may think

Dance, boogie wonderland

Dance, boogie wonderland

Midnight creeps so slowly into hearts

Of men who need more than they get

Daylight deals a bad hand

To a woman who has laid too many bets

The mirror stares you in the face and says

"Baby, uh uh, it don't work"

You say your prayers, though you don't care

You dance and shake the hurt

"Boogie Wonderland" is one of those songs that makes you want to dance and have fun while you are doing it. My husband and I were privileged to see Earth Wind and Fire perform this tune in concert with the Emotions and the energy from all of those talented entertainers on stage together was electrifying, to say the least. There are so many behind the scenes collaborations that go into the songs we love to dance to and this one is no different.

Boogie Wonderland honors

"Boogie Wonderland" was written by J0n Lind and Allee Willis and was released as a single in April 1979. It was number 2 on the Hot Soul singles chart number 6 on BILLBOARD'S HOT 100 and number 14 on the dance chart. It was certified Gold in the US by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America and Gold in the UK by the BPI (British Phonographic Industry). The song was nominated for Grammys for Best R&B Instrumental Performance and Best Disco Recording.

The single was released on the CAPITOL RECORDS label on an episode of UNSUNG featuring the EMOTIONS it was revealed that KALIMBA was the true driving force behind the hit. KALIMBA MUSIC is said to have been officially launched in 1996 but Maurice White the leader of EARTH WIND AND FIRE had actually begun this venture decades earlier. According to YAHOO FINANCE, KALIMBA was relaunched in 2003 by White as a vehicle to promote his group as well as up and coming performers.

Dance, boogie wonderland

Dance, boogie wonderland

Sound fly through the night

I chase my vinyl dreams to boogie wonderland

(I find romance when I start to dance in boogie wonderland

I find romance when I start to dance in boogie wonderland)

(All the love in the world can't be gone)

(All the need to be loved can't be wrong)

(All the records are playing)

(And my heart keeps saying)

(Boogie wonderland, wonderland)

The writers might surprise you

During an interview, Allee Willis said that she and John Lind were surprised that so many people said the song made them happy because they wrote it as a way to express the dark side of disco life. If you thought BOOGIE WONDERLAND was about simply dancing the night away it's not. It's about discovering that you were not the king or queen of the disco and taking a good hard look at yourself in the mirror on the morning after. Allee said the song was inspired by Diane Keaton's character who goes to the disco every night seeking to dance away her problems in LOOING FOR MR GOODBAR.

Willis said she became fascinated with people who went to clubs every night, living for the nightlife although it did not change anything and their lives were falling apart. She emphasized that the song is not a happy one at all. She added that she and Lind gave the song to Maurice White who wanted a relatively unknown group that he was managing to sing it. Allee said she and her co-writer had to practically beg White to use the tune for EARTH WIND AND FIRE.

Dance, boogie wonderland

Dance, boogie wonderland

(I find romance when I start to dance in boogie wonderland)

(I find romance when I start to dance in boogie wonderland)

Dance, boogie wonderland

Dance, boogie wonderland

(Hm-hm-hm-hm, hm-hm-hm-hm, hm-hm-hm-hm, wonderland)

(Hm-hm-hm-hm, hm-hm-hm-hm, hm-hm-hm-hm, wonderland)

Hm-hm-hm-hm, hm-hm-hm-hm, hm-hm-hm-hm)

(All the love in the world can't be gone

All the need to be loved can't be wrong

All the records are playing

And my heart keeps saying

Boogie wonderland, wonderland)

Behind the scenes conflict

Dance, boogie wonderland

Dance, boogie wonderland

(I find romance when I start to dance in boogie wonderland

I find romance when I start to dance in boogie wonderland)

Dance, boogie wonderland

Dance, boogie wonderland

According to UNSUNG, BOOGIE WONDERLAND was released on EARTH WIND & FIRE'S album but not the EMOTIONS. The girl group claims they did not receive any royalties at all for the song. UNSUNG tried to get confirmation from a representative from EWF but no one responded. I find it amazing how we sing and dance to songs yet at times have the wrong interpretation of what they really mean.

I also think it is sad that a hit recording that brought so much joy to listeners was not financially lucrative for one of the groups who sang it. When you watch the video and see the band members and singers dancing and singing on stage they look as though they are having a wonderful time.